On Father’s Day 2016, Dan and Maxi Cortez took their kids to Red Lobster. But when the family went to pay their bill, they found a note scribbled on the back. It was written by the family who sat across them at the restaurant.

“The holidays are always the hardest,” Maxi wrote on Facebook. “Without knowing any of this, you paid for our meal. You might never know our story or the impact of something so little could affect our lives. I’m writing you to thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”

“I hope this post reaches you, so one day you might know that what might seemed like a small gesture of kindness to you, made celebrating my wonderful husband just a little bit easier this year!”